For the last 7 years (with the exception of last year), I have made it a point to take part in Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. It’s a great way to get friends together, walk around the world and sample treats from even more countries than you do on a normal basis. After the withdrawal from last year, I made sure to not miss out this year!
Let me say that there is so much food, so many drink options and I was not able to sample everything. Therefore, this review is strictly based on the few items I did get to try. With some more time…and more money…I would have tried everything!
At the start of World Showcase we decided to go right. First stop: Hawaii!
Options in Hawaii include:
Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise – $3.25, DDP Snack Eligible
Tuna Poke with Seaweed Salad and Lotus Root Chips – $3.75, DDP Snack Eligible
Seven Tiki® Mai Tai – $7.75
Heitz Cellar Chardonnay – $4.50
Kona Brewing Company Big Wave Golden Ale – 6 oz: $3.00, 12 oz: $5.50, 22 oz: $12.00
Kona Brewing Company Pipeline Porter – 6 oz: $3.00, 12 oz: $5.50, 22 oz: $12.00
I went with the Kalua Pork Slider (pictured right). I was off to a good start! I’m not sure if I have a tendency to favor sliders (in past F&W scenarios, a lamb slider was a must); regardless I loved it. You may not think to put pork, pineapple and mayo together, but it was the perfect blend of salt, sweet and spice!
Next stop: Canada!
Here are the options:
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup – $4.00, DDP Snack Eligible
Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta and “Minus 8″ Onion Jam – $4.25, DDP Snack Eligible
“Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce – $6.50, DDP Snack Eligible
Neige Première Apple Ice Wine – $5.25
Neige Bubble – $6.00
Mission Hill Family Estate Syrah – $5.25
Moosehead Beer – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25
I chose the Chicken Chipolte Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta (pictured right). I also sampled the Cheddar Cheese Soup (below), which I’ve had in the past and figured I’d go outside of the box a bit. But-the soup remains an excellent choice…even in 88 degree weather. I liked the sausage, more of a kick then what I typically go for but when there’s “chipolte” in the title, what else would I expect?
Let’s continue with the tour. I skipped over Greece for the first time and there was a hope of an Ireland/England stop, but the lines were a little too long. Keep in mind, all countries were visited, passed by or sampled by others in my group but I am only basing my reviews on things I tried.
Next up: Singapore!
Here are the choices:
Beef Rendang with Jasmine Rice – $3.25, DDP Snack Eligible
Seared Mahi Mahi with Jasmine Rice and “Singa” Sauce – $4.25, DDP Snack Eligible
Tiger Beer – $6.00
Marqués de Cáceres Satinela – $2.50
Singapore Sling – $7.75
I chose the Beef Rendang with Jasmine rice (pictured below). Although it looks a lil funky, it was quite yummy! Another one with a kick but not any less tasty.
Can you believe I hadn’t had a drink by this point? That will change soon.
Off to America/Hops and Barly!
Offered here:
Linda Bean’s® Lobster Claw Cuddler® Chilled with Herb Mayonnaise – $6.50, DDP Snack Eligible
Linda Bean’s® Perfect Maine Lobster Roll® – $7.50, DDP Snack Eligible
Linda Bean’s® Maine Home Style Clam Chowder – $3.25, DDP Snack Eligible
Pumpkin Mousse with Craisins and Orange Sauce – $1.50, Vegetarian, DDP Snack Eligible
Samuel Adams Boston Lager® – 6 oz: $3.00, 12 oz: $5.50, 22 oz: $12.00*
Samuel Adams® Seasonal – 6 oz: $3.00, 12 oz: $5.50, 22 oz: $12.00*
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat® – 6 oz: $3.00, 12 oz: $5.50, 22 oz: $12.00*
17th Anniversary Festival Beer– Samuel Adams® Chocolate Bock – 6 oz: $3.00, 12 oz: $5.50, 22 oz: $12.00*
Samuel Adams Light® – $6.00
Samuel Adams® Cream Stout – $6.25
Samuel Adams® Latitude 48 IPA – $6.00
Angry Orchard Cider – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25*
Let the drinking begin! I went with the flight which contained the Sam Adams Boston Lager, Seasonal, Cherry Wheat and Festival and the Lobster Roll (pictured right). The flights are a good option to sample a few beers at once, while saving a little money. The Lobster Roll was good, although not my favorite. This may have to do with the fact that I was sitting directly in the sun and needing more beer then food at the time.
Then there was a break for a few rides that I haven’t been on in a few years, but that’s for a different blog.
Pit stop was made at The Festival Center – also known as the Wonders of Life Building.
Here we sampled the Chocolate Experience. A lil Liquid Chocolate with some Rosa Regale wine. Do I even need to comment on this? If I must then it can be summed up with one word: HEAVEN!
Back to the countries we go-this time starting left. I will say my day slowed down a lot as I started to be a bit more picky about which items I would try-only a few more.
Argentina was next and here were the options:
Beef Empanada – $4.00, DDP Snack Eligible
Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée – $5.00, DDP Snack Eligible
Terrazas Reserva Chardonnay – $3.75
Terrazas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – $3.75
Terrazas Reserva Torrontes – $3.75
Terrazas Reserva Malbec – $3.50
The Beef Empanada (pictured right) was hot (in temperature), seasoned and delicious. Now that I think about it, I should’ve paired it with some wine.
Moving right along, I found myself standing in front of Scandanavia. I sort of skimmed the menu and noticed that one of my favorite things was on the menu: Iron Horse Fairytale Cuvee! I got right on line. I wasn’t about to walk away from a glass of Fairytale!
Off to China!
Although I always stop here for the same thing, here are the menu items;
Mongolian Beef with Chinese Steamed Bun – $4.50, DDP Snack Eligible
Pork Pot Stickers – $3.75, DDP Snack Eligible
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Pickled Vegetables – $4.25, DDP Snack Eligible
Mango Tapioca Pudding – $3.25, DDP Snack Eligible
Tsing Tao Beer – $6.00
Francis Ford Coppola Su Yuen Riesling – $3.50
Francis Ford Coppola Su Yuen Syrah – $3.50
Happy Lychee with Vodka – $7.00
Sunny Guava with Coconut Rum – $7.00
I can have Pot Stickers at most Sushi restaurants I go to, also known as Gyosa (pictured right and you’ll notice one is already missing. Little too eager before taking the picture). For some reason, I always make it a point to have it while in China. I also had a taste of the Mongolian Beef, which was yummy. If you haven’t noticed, I don’t really have bad experiences at F&W.
Finally the Brewer’s Collection in honor of Oktoberfest.
Here are the options:
Radeberger Pilsner – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Altenmünster Oktoberfest – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Altenmünster Dunkel – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Hövels – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Schöfferhofer Weizen – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Schöfferhofer Grapefruit – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Berliner Kindl Dark – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25* Sion Kölsch – 6 oz: $3.50, 12 oz: $6.75, 22 oz: $12.25*
I have to say, I cheated the night before on my way to Japan for dinner and stopped here for a flight. Between the two days, I had two flights and the only one I didn’t like was the Schöfferhofer Grapefruit. Tasted a lil too much like medicine for me. The flights are pictured below.
I did mention via twitter that there was one item I went back for because I had to have it again. It’s where the day started-in Hawaii. That slider was so good I had to go back for seconds!
All in all, another successful, delicious, good times had by all experience at Food and Wine 2012. I wish I had more time and more money to sample everything! I can’t wait to go back again next year!
Sista Dillo